Operators Association

How to Carry Yourself Like a SOF Operator

Aug 29, 2021

Principles for moving, speaking, and acting in ways that demand respect and radiate confidence

What makes an operator different from a civilian? It’s not his weapons, rank, or title. It’s the way he carries himself in his daily life. SOF operators think, move, and act in ways that earn respect and demonstrate capability. Operators are always prepared to face and attack the obstacles that life puts in their way. They are purposeful in their actions and ready for anything. If you put a special forces warrior in a room with regular civilians, he immediately stands out from the crowd. 

You might not be a Green Beret, Navy SEAL, or Ranger yet. But it’s not too early to start carrying yourself like one. In this OA guide, we’ll show you how to live and conduct yourself like a SOF operator in your daily life. These principles will immediately make you stand out in any situation and change the way you’re perceived by others. Start applying them today, and you’ll instantly see a difference in the way you go about your daily life.

Principle 1: Take Care of Your Appearance
Nearly all military organizations worldwide – not just SOF – take great pride in how their warriors look. When your outfit is neat and put together, you show people that you have the self-respect and discipline to carry yourself with dignity. Taking care of your appearance doesn’t mean you have to walk around in a suit all day. It means doing everything in your power to ensure you put your best foot forward. Studies have shown that people form an opinion of you based on your appearance in less than 1/10 of a second. So taking care of how you look is critical to your success in society.

Before you go anywhere, take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror and check your appearance. Is your shirt ironed and pressed, or is it wrinkled? Are your nails trimmed and hands clean? Is your hair neat, or does it look like you rolled out of bed five minutes ago? If you’re guilty of these errors, fix them immediately. 

Principle 2: Move with a Purpose
Nothing screams incompetence more than a person who’s wandering around pointlessly. Above all, operators are masters of their craft. They are focused, determined, and deliberate with their actions. They identify their objective and attack it with ruthless determination. If you want to start carrying yourself like an operator, move with a purpose. Regardless of what you’re doing, pursue your goal with conviction.

If you’re working out, stay focused on your training. If you’re buying food at the grocery store, keep your head up, eyes forward, and walk like you’ve got somewhere to be. Relax and be at ease, but every movement you make must have a function. Walk with a purpose, stand with a purpose, move with a purpose. Don’t fidget or meander aimlessly – if you have nothing to do, either find something to do or stand still.

Principle 3: Speak with Conviction
Building off of the last point, the way you speak should also serve a purpose. In the modern age of social media and endless opinions, many people talk too much and think too little. Whenever you open your mouth, ask yourself whether what you’re saying is meaningful. If you keep up with our OA guides (you should), you’ll know that we’re big supporters of learning when to stop talking. Few things ruin your respect and credibility more than incessantly running your mouth.

Learn how to speak with conviction. Ensure that your opinions are based on fact and be able to defend them. Express yourself in a way that preserves your dignity and the dignity of others. Last but not least, learn how to admit that you are wrong or don’t know something. Speaking with conviction and purpose makes others respect you more and helps you avoid saying something you’ll regret in the future.

Principle 4: Stay Fit and Capable
Physical fitness and capability are at the core of an operator’s lifestyle. From the moment an aspiring operator enters selection, he is tested and pushed to his physical limits. If you want to start carrying yourself like an operator, you must develop your physical capabilities.

Being fit and capable doesn’t just mean doing pushups and lifting weights. Are you able to save your own life and protect your community? Are you prepared to defend yourself against an aggressor? Are you willing and ready to fight for your nation? These are all things that set operators apart from ordinary civilians. In the modern media, physical capability and aggression are often portrayed as “toxic” traits. Always remember: harmless doesn’t make you a good person – it makes you ineffective.

“A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control.” 
– Jordan Peterson

Developing your physical capability and performance is the key to living and carrying yourself like an operator. But in today’s world of bro scientists and fitness influencers, it’s nearly impossible to find a training routine that you know will work and yield results. That’s why we created the OA The Forge Challenge! This free 1-month challenge doesn’t just give you a daily workout training plan. It also includes weekly mini-tasks that improve your leadership, adaptability, knowledge, and discipline. Still not convinced? Challenge winners and top-performers will receive some epic OA prizes!

Joining the challenge is 100% free! Just click the link below or visit The Forge tab on the Operators Association website to enter. Enter OA’s The Forge challenge and start living like an operator today!

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